Improving Your Basketball Shot

For more than three decades, Duane Wardell has been working in the information technology industry. He is an Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) in database administration and most recently acted as Memorial Hermann Healthcare System’s consultant database programmer and analyst. An avid basketball fan, Duane Wardell enjoys coaching, watching, and playing the sport.

Technique plays a huge role in the overall success of your basketball shots. As you prepare for a shot, make sure your fingertips are touching the ball rather than your palm. This gives you a good amount of control over how the ball moves. Align your elbows and middle finger with the rim of the basketball hoop, but keep your elbows tucked in at your sides. This positioning gives you the best accuracy and ensures that the ball goes where you want it to.

As you complete a basketball shot, your body must also be in the right follow-through position. At the start of a shot, your body should be smaller than normal because your legs are bent. When you shoot, stretch out your body and end tall. Always fully extend your arm when shooting a basketball. Ideally, you release the ball once your elbow is above your eyes. Many players ignore this and their shooting suffers as a result. Further, your wrist and fingers should be loose after the ball has left your hand.

If your technique is already perfect, your problem may stem from a lack of confidence. Everyone has bad days. Constantly thinking about every missed shot distracts the mind and may result in you missing more and more of your shots. Instead, stop overthinking the process. Do not try to copy professional players and just stay relaxed when you go up to the hoop.